Menopause

Acupuncture Menopause

Menopause – Information:

Menopause is a natural process that typically occurs in women between the ages of 43-53. During this time the ovaries secrete a reducing amount of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, and ovulation eventually stops. Within this transition period a number of symptoms can occur causing various amounts of distress. Common signs and symptoms include as hot flushes, night sweats, palpitations, low libido, anxiety, insomnia

Acupuncture Menopause theory:

From an Acupuncturists perspective this occurs due to a natural decline of blood and jing flowing within the Conception vessel and Penetrating vessels (responsible for reproduction). This change naturally occurs with age to conserve energy, so energy is taken from where it is no longer needed. Yin energy in the form of blood and jing is therefore reduced in the reproductive meridians. During this change yin and yang energy is disturbed. The yin energy binds our inner energy together maintaining mental and physical stability. Depending on your constitution and how you live your life affects how well the body can adapt to this transitional state. Often the yin is unable to contain the Yang (expanding) energy, allowing it to scatter, leading to typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, palpitations, low libido, anxiety, insomnia and more.

Through careful manipulation of qi or energy within the meridian system acupuncture assists in harmonising this yin and yang energy, making the menopause a more manageable time. Acupuncture dietary advice would be to eat more yin conserving foods such as Soya based products, nuts and seeds and oily fish such as sardines and mackerel, and to limit yang-inducing products such as caffeine and alcohol.

Abdominal acupuncture is an effective and safe method for menopause depressive disorder, it improves the menopause depressive symptoms with persistent action, less symptoms relapse and adverse reactions.

the results from all studies are in agreement with the hypothesis that acupuncture needling relieves hot flushes. There are few data however supporting the hypothesis that the effect of acupuncture is point specific. Future research should investigate whether there is a biological effect of needling on hot flushes or not, whether tailored treatment is superior to standardised treatment, and ways of delivering treatment that causes least discomfort and least cost.